Bucket



J. W. LOWELL BUCKET Aug. 22, 1933.

Filed NOV. 14. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l nuekt'or: 29love]! $3 2/ dig/s,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fluentor: 0/272 4! Lowefl @gdalei g Aug'. 22; 1933. J. w. LOWELL BUCKET Filed NOV. 14. 1931 Patented Aug. 22, 1933 PATENT OFFICE I John W.

BUCKET Lowell, Chic Ill., assignor to Benedict Stone Products Company, Chicago, 111., a Corporation of Illinois Application November 14, 1931 Serial No, 575,023

9 Claims.

The present invention relates to buckets, and is particularly concerned with buckets peculiarly adapted to be used for conveying and dumping concrete or similar materials, but the present buckets are of general application, and I do not wish to limit myself to the use of my buckets for any particular material.

In the manufacture of precast concrete articles, it has been found desirable to employ 10 mixtures which comprise aggregate in the "form of crushed stone, granite, marble, or the like, Portland cement, and a very low percentage of Water, resulting in a green concrete which is so dry that it has no appreciable slump when it is dumped out of a container. The materials referred to are merely exemplary of one type of mixture or material which the present buckets are peculiarly adapted to handle, and such mixtures are utilized for making precast concrete members simulating in appearance and density, the more expensive and ornamental stones, such as marble, granite and the like.

It is highly desirable to provide some formof r conveying means adapted to discharge such mixtures directly into the concrete forms, and

as many concrete-forms have a relatively small" flow at all from a small discharge aperture ordelivery member, and even medium wet or relatively wet mixtures may refuse to flow, depending upon the size and characteristics of the delivery and discharging apparatus. The greatest trouble is naturally experienced with a very dry, now-workable and non-fluid mixture, such as is preferably used for making artificial stones of high crushing strength, which are also capable of taking a high polish and which simulate the native stone in appearance. k One of the objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved system of conveying and placing concrete or the like by means of which dry and non-workable mixtures may be placed more economically and more quickly 50 than with the systems or devices of the prior art.

Another object is the provision of an improved portable bucket which is peculiarly adapted to effect the transportation and 5 placement of concrete or other materials in "the shortest possible time, without possibility of clogging or loss of time.

Another object is the provision of animproved portable bucket having a restricted discharge opening which is adapted to handle relatively non-fluid materials and place them at accurately predetermined points without clogging by virtue of the fact that the bucket is provided with means for producing high frequency vibrations in the materials which are being discharged from the bucket.

Another object isthe provision of an improved A method of transporting and placing concrete in relatively small forms by means of which the usual manual operations of shoveling or otherwise placing and distributing the concrete may be eliminated and the concrete kept in a state of flow and agitation by means 'of high frequency vibrations induced in the concrete during its flow.

Another object is the provision of an improved bucket having a high frequency vibrator which is located to produce vibrations in the'concrete flowing from the bucket with the highest degree of efiiciency in order to efiect the most economical operation.

Another object is the provision of an improved bucket having a very advantageous automatic control for the high frequency vibrator, whereby the vibrator is automatically started when the bucket gate is opened to a predetermined point, or stopped when thebucket gate is fully closed.

Another object is the provision of an improved vibrator and throttling control for buckets of the class describedby means of which the starting and stopping of the vibrator is controlled by the operation of the gate, but the gate may nevertheless be utilized for throttling the flow of the materials from the bucket so that the material may be placed without waste, through relatively small apertures in forms.

Another object is the provision of an improved bucket structure which is economical and emcient, and adapted to efiect the clean discharge of concrete without waste or residue in the bucket which might become set before it is used, and the provision of an improved bucket gate which is adapted to be operated with a minimum amount of effort, and which is adapted to effect a control of the size of the discharge aperture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, of which there are two sheets;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the present system of transportation and placement of the concrete;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a bucket constructed according to the present invention;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the bucket;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view through the discharge aperture and gate, taken on the plane of the line 44 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the lower end of the bucket;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the plane corresponding to the line 6-6 of Fig. 4, showing a modified form of bucket gate which is adapted to be utilized for reducing the size of the discharge aperture;

Fig. 7 is a similar view of another modification, taken on the plane corresponding to the line 7--7 of Fi 4.

Referring to Fig. 1, the concrete. conveying, placing and treating system preferably includes a concrete mixer 10 of any desirable type, which is preferably located at a point of elevation with respect to the concrete forms 11, carried by wheel trucks 12, which are also provided with one or more high frequency vibrators 13.

The bucket 14 is adapted to be supported upon the framework 15 in such position that it is located to receive the mixed concrete which discharges from the discharge spout 16 of the mixer 10. An elevating and conveying apparatus is preferably included in the system, such as a supporting framework 17, 18 for the parallel tracks 19, 20, which movably support the transverse track beam 21 which is carried by a plurality of flanged rollers 22, preferably four or more in number.

The transverse track 21 may be moved longi tudinally of the rails 19 and 20 by a motor 23 which is only shown diagrammatically, since any type of power unit may be utilized.

The track 21 supports a carriage 24 provided with flanged wheels or rollers 25 for supporting the carriage 24 on the track 21, and carriage 24 is provided with a motor 26 for driving the carriage 24 along the track 21 and for actuating a drum 27 to elevate or lower the bucket 14 by means of the cable 28, and any appropriate form of lifting tackle 29.

The lifting devices 29 may be provided with a pair of downwardly extending cables 30, each terminating in hooks 31 for engaging in the lifting and supporting members 32 carried by the opposite sides of the bucket and provided with apertures 33. By means of the derrick system, the bucket 14 may be lifted from the framework 15 and moved longitudinally of-the rails 19 and 20, or longitudinally of the track 21', to transport the concrete to any convenient point, and discharge it directly into the opening usually provided at the top of the form or mold 11.

- The bucket 14 preferably comprises a substantially frusto-conical sheet metal member which is formed by shaping a sheet of metal into a substantially conical shape and butt welding or otherwise securing the edges together to form a substantially frusto-conical member, as shown 'in Figs. 2 and 3. The frusto-conical body 34 face of the body of the bucket at its upper end, and the band 35 may be spot welded or otherwise secured at a multiplicity of spaced points around the top of the bucket.

The supporting band 35 preferably carries the lifting and supporting members 32 which are located at the opposite sides of the bucket for engagement with the hooks 31. These members 32 may be identical in shape, and therefore only one of them need be described. in detail. They are preferably formed out of a single strip of metal having its ends brought together in parallel relation from the top of the bucket to the upper end of the stirrup, and the ends are welded or otherwise secured together and provided with the apertures 33.

The supporting members or stirrups 32 are provided with a substantially triangular formation below the top of the bucket, the base of the triangle being grooved at 36 to provide a socket or recess 37 for receiving the vertically extending channeled members 38 of the framework 15. The inner side 39 of the triangular stirrups may be welded to the band 35 and to the body 34 of the bucket with an appropriate sheet metal spacer 40 located below the band 35 and between the body of the bucket and the stirrup.

When the bucket is located on the framework 15 with the vertically extending frame members 38 engaged in the recesses 37, the bucket is wholly supported by the framework 15 in a balanced position, since the major portion of the weight of the bucket, whether it be empty or full, is disposed below the points of support 37.

The inner surface of the bucket is preferably smooth and preferably tapers regularly from the top of the bucket to the discharge end 41 in order to effect a clean discharge of the concrete, but the present buckets may take various different shapes without departing from the broad features of the invention. The lower end of the bucket 14 is preferably provided with a substan- I tially rectangular portion 42 secured to the discharge end 41 of the bucket, for the purpose of providing the bucket with a discharge .aperture 43 of substantially rectangular shape.

The lower casing 42 may be made square in cross-section, if desired, in which case the bucket body 34 might be in the shape of a regular cone, except for its lower end, where the shape of the discharge end 41 diverges from the conical to effect a connection with the substantially rectangular lower casing 42..

The bucket preferably has a discharge aperture 43 which is longer in one dimension as may be seen from comparison of the breadth and width of the lower end of the bucket shown in Figs. 2 and 3, thereby giving a discharge opening of substantially the shape of the inner member shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The discharge opening 43 is preferably provided with a gate indicated in its entirety by the numeral 44, and the gate 44 preferably consists of a sheet metal member formed with a curved body 45 adapted to cover the aperture 43, and with upwardly extending arms 46, 47 adapted to be pivotally supported upon the studs 48.

Each of the arms 46, 4'7 is preferably offset at 49 to locate the ends of the arms in the proper position to engage the studs 48, which are neces- 1 sarily spaced farther apart than the width of the discharge opening 43, since the studs 48 are carried farther up on the conical body 34. The arms 47 have their ends 50 provided with apertures 51 to form bearings for receiving the studs 48. Each of the studs 48 is preferably provided with a base 52 which may be welded or otherwise secured to the bucket body 34, and the base 52 is preferably formed with a thrust bearing 53. Appropriate washers 54 may be placed between the end 50 of each arm and' the base 52 of the stud, and similar washers 54 located inside the cotter pins 55, which retain the arms on the studs.

The body of the gate is preferably provided with a curved steel plate 56 having a smooth surface adapted to engage the concrete with a minimum amount of friction, and also adapted to withstand the extraordinary wear to which the inner surface of the gate 45 is subjected. The

steel facing plate 56 may be secured to the gate body 45 by a plurality of rivets 57, which preferably have their inner heads 58 arranged flush with the inner surface of the gate.

The studs 48 are preferably located as shown in Fig. 2 at one side of the line of centers extending from the center of the top of the bucket to the center of the discharge opening 43, the studs being located on the'same side of the line of centers as the edge 59 of the gate. The discharge aperture 43 has its edges appropriately curved as shown in Fig. 4, upward and toward the right from the left-hand wall 60 of the discharge aperture, the curvature of the gate 45 and the discharge aperture 43 being taken on a radius corresponding to the radius of the arms 47 with the center of the. studs 48 as the center of curvature.

The edge 59 of the gate is beveled off as shown, to provide a relatively sharp edge capable of cutting through the stream of concrete or other material, with a minimum amount of effort and also to streamline the edge of the gate somewhat in the direction of the flow of the concrete when the gate is open.

The gate 44 is preferably provided with a substantially U-shaped handle 61 which may be formed of a rod having its two ends 62 secured to the arms 47 by welding or other convenient fastening means. The yoke 63 may be grasped by the hand of the operator in actuating the gate 44 and in order to minimize the strains produced on the points of securement between the legs 62 and arms 4'7, the handle 61 is preferably provided with a diagonalbrace 64 joined to each leg as shown in Fig. 2, and having a bearing member 65 at its end, which is also rotatably mounted on studs 48. The brace 64 prevents the bending action upon the handle 61 when it is lifted or ,forced down by the operator, and it renders the handle arrangement much more sturdy than it would otherwise be.

The gate 44 may beopened by lifting on the yoke 63 of the handle -.61, which will cause the gate to pivot in a counter-clockwise direction in Fig. 2 and produce a corresponding opening of the discharge aperture 43. The size of the discharge aperture may be determined by the amount of lopening ofthe gate,- and a relatively wide and thin stream of concrete may be discharged for placement through a small opening in the mold or form, if necessary.

i Referring to Fig. 6, this is a modified form of igate in which the gate is provided with a sub- ]stantially rectangular aperture 66 at its front edge 59. The gate of Fig. 6 is made of sufiicient width from the edge 67 to the rear edge 68, so-

fined by the dotted line 69 inside the end 43 of the bucket. A further opening to the dotted line position '70, produces a substantially T-shaped discharge aperture, and a further opening to the dotted line position '71 produces a full rectangular opening equal to the size of the discharge aperture 43.

Referring to Fig. 7, this is another modification in which the front edge 72 of the gate has been made substantially V-shaped. Referring to the dotted line positions 73, 74, 75, it will be noted that triangular discharge apertures of varying size may be produced. by using a gate having this configuration.

It has already been pointed out that the pivots of the gate are disposed at one side of the line of centers of the bucket, and the purpose of this 7 construction will now be described in detail.

It was'found that it required a substantial amount of effort to close a gate of the type described, for the reason that the aggregate is extremely heavy and when it is flowing under the influence of the vibrator, the stream must be diverted and shut off by the force exerted on the ate.

In order to increase the facility with which the gate may be handled, the gate is so arranged as to move downward to the left in the act of cutting off the stream of concrete, and the location of the pivot points of the gate as described, greatly improves the operating characteristics of the gate and decreases the amount of eifort required for closing and opening the gate. Furthermore, the gate tends to remainshut under the action of gravity when it reaches the posi- 110 tion of Fig. 2, one or both of the arms 46, 47 engaging stop blocks '76.

The discharge apertures preferably employed with the portable bucket described, are so small and/or the mixers intended to be handled by 115 the bucket are relatively dry, non-workable and non-fluid, so that the mere opening of the gate produces no flow of concrete under ordinary conditions, depending upon the fluidity of the concrete and the size of the opening. Some of the features of the present invention might be utilized with fluid mixtures or relatively large discharge openings, and the present bucket is adapted to take care of all types ofmixtures.

With the relatively dry-non-workable and nonfluid mixtures which it has become desirable to employ for many precast concrete members, the concrete will not flow at all from the discharge aperture ofthe bucket on account of the stiff character of the 'mix which has no appreciable slump when it is dumped on a plane surface from a test bucket.

In order to effect a discharge of the concrete, the bucket is provided with a vibrator '77 which is diagrammatically shown in Figs. 2, 4 .and 5. The vibrator 77 is provided with attaching flanges 78 by means of which the vibator is attached with bolts '79 or other convenient fastening means, to the lower end of the bucket adjacent the discharge opening. The vibrator '77 is preferably a high frequency vibrator producing vibrations of a frequency of about 3600 vibrations per minute, but the rate of vibration may be more or less provided the frequency and amplitude are such as to keep the particles of the concrete in constant agitation to prevent the blocking of the concrete in the discharge aperture by the arching or bridging of particles from one side of the lower end of the bucket to the other. The vibrator is preferably located at the discharge opening where the tendency to arch or clog is greatest, and furthermore, the vibrator being located substantially at the apex of the frusto-conical bucket, the vibrations are readily transmitted from the apex to other parts of the bucket and concrete with a minimum amount of loss of energy.

The vibrator '77 may take any of a number of diiTerent forms, and therefore is illustrated diagrammatically and may be described as follows.

One form of the vibrator may consist of an electric motor having one or more eccentric weights located. on the ends of its shaft for producing vibration as the shaft rotates. Another form of electric vibrator is the electromagnetic reciprocating vibrator having a core and armature and coils for periodically energizing the core and armature when energized by alternating current and/or direct current, as described in detail in the prior application of Walter H.

Horsch, Serial No. 428,995, filed February 17, 1930.

Another type of vibrator which has been used, may consist of a relatively small air hammer having a reciprocating plunger which strikes the side of the bucket at its lower end and which is provided with the usual valves for automatically reversing the application of air pressure to the piston and causing the piston to reciprocate rapidly. The latter vibrator is subject to the disadvantage of the excessive noise which is produced by the impact of the hammer with the bucket, but aside from this disadvantage, highly desirable results have been accomplished.

The lines leading from the vibrator 77 may be considered diagrammatic illustrations of the electrical conductors leading to a source of supply, or a diagrammatic illustration of the source of air pressure. The vibrator 77 is preferably controlled by a switch or valve 81 which is in communication with the vibrator through the control leads or pipe 82, in such manner that when the switch or valve 81 is closed, the vibrator 77 is turned on. The switch or valve 81 is preferably of the snap type provided with an actuating member 83, which may be actuated by a reciprocating bar 84 slidably mounted in a guide 85. The bar 84 has a slot 86 engaging the switch actuating member 83 and the bar 84 is pivotally connected at 87'to the brace 64 or some other part connected to the gate 44.

The slot 86 constitutes a lost motion device, the slot being of sufficient length so that when the gate is fully closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the switch or valve is turned off, but the gate may be slightly opened or opened to substantially full discharge opening, without actuating the switch 81.

When the gate 44 is opened to a predetermined amount, preferably the fully open position, the lower end of slide 86 actuates the switch actuating member 83 and turns on the vibrator. The lost motion slot 86 then permits the gate to be partially closed without actuating the switch, so that the vibrator may be under operation with the gate in any of the various throttling positions previously described and illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 with modified forms of gates.

When the high frequency vibrator. is thus turned on and the gate opened, the relatively non-fluid and non-workable concrete is reduced to a fluid condition, and it flows freely from the bucket into the concrete form or into any position in which it is desired to place the concrete. The concrete is also subjected to high frequency vibration by means of the vibrator 13 after it is placed in the form, or during its placement in order to remove the air and to increase the density and improve the characteristics of the concrete. The vibration to which the concrete is subjected in the bucket, tends to produce the same desirable results and reduces the period of vibration necessary after the concrete has been placed in the mold.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved bucket which is adapted to handle a non-flowing mixture of concrete as well as all other kinds of concrete with a minimum amount of labor and time. The'high frequency vibration of the concrete in the bucket also tends to consolidate the concrete and drive the'air from the concrete, thus saving time in the vibration of the concrete after it has been placed in the mold.

It should be noted that it is not necessary to use high frequency vibration nor a high frequency vibrator in every case, because any kind of vibration on the bucket will have some effect. Low frequency vibration may also be employed to effect a discharge of concrete from the bucket, and I do not wish to limit myself to any particular frequency. Themore intense the vibration, the greater the eifect in causing the material to flow from the restricted discharge opening. The vibrator may also be employed upon buckets which do not have a restricted discharge opening but which require some vibration to discharge the material carried by the bucket.

The frequency of the-vibrations utilized with such a bucket may vary from zero or a very low frequency to an extremely high frequency, including the highest frequency mechanical vibrations which can be produced by any mechanical device acting on the bucket or concrete.

It should also be noted that air hammers may.

be utilized which do not necessarily impact against the bucket itself but in which the piston or reciprocating member impacts the end of the cylinder or an anvil, or the same result may be secured without impact by the vibration of an air piston with air cushions at each end of the cylinder for entrapping air and returning the-piston, the vibration being produced by the inertia effect of the piston. Rotating fluid pressure devices may also be utilized having an eccentric weight to produce vibrations.

It should also be noted that the present invention is capable of handling fluid concrete or concrete of a plastic consistency as well as extremely dry, non-fluid or non-workable concrete to advantage. Plastic concrete can be handled more economically with such a bucket because it will flow faster, while non-workable or extremely dry concrete could hardly be handled at all in such a bucket without vibration. The vibration of the container in any case causes the concrete to flow faster and effects a better discharge of the material from the bucket.

vWhile I have. illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A portable'bucket forhandling concrete or the like, comprising a container having a discharge opening and an inner surface located to guide concrete to the discharge opening by gravity, a high frequency vibrator carried by said portable bucket and adapted to efiect a discharge of the concrete from the discharge opening, a gate for closing said discharge opening and varying the size of the discharge opening, and means actuated by the gate for controlling the high frequency vibrator, said means including a lost motion device whereby the gate may be moved for throttling the discharge opening without actuating the control means.

2. A portable bucket for handling concrete comprising a substantially frusto-conical member formed with a discharge opening substantially at its apex, a high frequency vibrator carried by said bucket at its apex and adapted to place said bucket in a state of vibration to effect a discharge from said opening, a reinforcing band carried by the larger end of said container, a pair of stirrups carried by said band, said stirrups being provided with apertures for lifting devices and with sockets for receiving stationary supporting devices.

3. In a portable bucket for concrete or the like, the combination of a container tapering from a relatively large opening at the top to a small discharge'opening at the bottom, with a gate, a high frequency vibrator carried by said bucket adjacent said discharge opening and adapted to place the bucket of concrete in a fluid state to efiect a discharge when said gate is opened, a pair of studs carried by said container for pivotally supporting said gate, said studs being located above said discharge opening and toward one side of said bucket to cause said gate to move downward during the closing "motion and said gate and the walls adjacent said discharge opening being curved on a radius and from a center corresponding to the center of said studs.

4. In a portable bucket for concrete or the like, the combination of a container tapering from a relatively large opening at the top to a small discharge opening at the bottom, with a gate, an electric vibrator carried by said bucket adjacent said discharge opening and adapted to efiect a discharge from said opening when said gate is opened, a pair of studs carried by said container for pivotally supporting said gate, said studs being located above said discharge opening and toward one side of said bucket to cause said gate to move downward during the closing motion, and said gate and the walls adjacent said discharge opening being curved on a radius and from a center corresponding to the center of said studs, said gate being provided with a facing plate of wear resisting material and formed with a beveled throttling edge.

5. In a portable bucket for concrete or the like, the combination of a container tapering from a relatively large opening at the top to a small discharge opening at the bottom, with a gate, a high frequency vibrator carried by the apex of said bucket and controlled by said gate, a pair of studs carried by said container for pivotally supporting said gate, said studs being lo cated above said discharge opening and toward one side of said bucket to cause said gate to move downward during the closing motion, and said gate and the walls adjacent said discharge opening being curved on a radius and from a center corresponding to the center of said studs, said gate being formed with a substantially V-shaped and switch whereby said gate may be moved to edge to provide discharge apertures of varying size.

6. In a portable bucket for concrete or the like, the combination of a container tapering from a relatively large opening at the top to a small discharge opening at the bottom, with a gate, a high frequency electric vibrator carried by said bucket and controlled by said gate, a pair of studs carried by said container for pivotally supporting said gate, said studs being located above said discharge opening and toward one side, of said bucket to cause said gate to move downward during the closing motion, and said gate and the walls adjacent said discharge opening being curved on a radius and from a center corresponding to the center of said studs, said gate being provided with a facing plate of wear resisting material and formed with a beveled throttling edge, said gate being provided with a recess at its forward edge forming a discharge aperture of relatively small size on partial opening of said gate.

7. Ina portable bucketfor concrete or the like, the combination of a container tapering from a relatively large opening at the top to a small discharge opening at the bottom, with a gate, a high frequency electric vibrator carried by said bucket and controlled by said gate, a pair of studs carried by said container for pivotally supporting said gate, said studs being located above said discharge opening and toward one side of said bucket to cause said gate to move downward during the closing motion, and said gate and the walls adjacent said discharge opening being curved on a radius and from a center corresponding to the center of said studs, said gate being provided with a facing plate of wear resisting material and formed with a beveled throttling edge, a

substantially U-shaped handle having its ends secured to said gate, and a pair of braces extending from said handle, said braces having bearings pivotally mounted on said studs.

8. In a vibrating bucket, the combination of a tapered bucket having a small discharge opening at the lower end with an electric vibrator carried by said bucket adjacent its lower end, a gate for closing said discharge opening, an electric switch for controlling said electric vibrator, and a lost motion connection between said gate a multiplicity of throttling positions without actuating said switch, but said switch and electric vibrator may be controlled by said gate at the limits of its movement.

9. In a vibrating bucket, the combination 01' a tapered bucket having a small discharge open-o ing at the lower end with an electric vibrator carried by said bucket adjacent its lower end, a gate for closing said discharge opening, an electric switch for controlling said electric vibrator, and a lost motion connection between said gate and switch whereby said gate may be moved to a multiplicity of throttling positions without actuating said switch, but said switch and electric vibrator may be controlled by said gate at the limits of its movement, said gate being formed with a cutting edge having a recess adapted to effect a partial opening of the discharge opening during the initial movement of the gate.

JOHN W. LOWELL. 

